A week had passed since the New Year.
After that, everyone's friendship had grown deeper, and their bonds had become stronger.
Even Sasuke's face, usually shrouded in gloom, now wore a more relaxed smile.
Fei Shi also planned to leave Konoha for a while.
He had visited Shikkotsu Forest before to learn Senjutsu. As for Mount Myoboku... all he could say was that "December" was taking too long to arrive.
After getting in touch with Jiraiya, he was summoned to Mount Myoboku amid a string of complaints.
"Hmm, not bad. The air seems much fresher than elsewhere. This really is a place where Natural Energy gathers."
Just then, an old toad appeared beside Fei Shi and looked at Jiraiya.
"Little Jiraiya, is this the person you told me about?"
"Yes, Sage Fukasaku."
"You have Natural Energy from another sacred land on you. Shikkotsu Forest?"
"That's right."
Fei Shi nodded.
Then he looked at the screen before him, which no one else could see.
Learn the Sage Modes of the Three Sacred Lands
Progress: 1/3
Sage Fukasaku stroked his beard and exclaimed in amazement:
"Looks like you've got big ambitions, young one. You want to learn the Sage Modes of all three sacred lands?"
Fei Shi made no attempt to hide it and nodded.
"That will be very difficult. Each sacred land's Sage Mode is different, and so are the methods of training and the dangers involved. The slightest mistake could cost you your life. Do you still intend to train? Talented youngsters like you are rare. You should think it over before deciding."
Sage Fukasaku shook his head. He didn't want Fei Shi to train in Sage Mode.
"Sage Fukasaku," Fei Shi said, "I've already made up my mind. Take me to see the Great Toad Sage. I don't do anything unless I'm sure I can handle it."
Sage Fukasaku furrowed his brow and said:
"Young people these days! Sigh, fine... Come with me."
The two followed Sage Fukasaku into the hall, where a gigantic toad dozed on a raised seat.
"Great Toad Sage, the young man who wants to train in Sage Mode is here."
There was no response.
"Great Toad Sage!"
"Oh, who's that? And who are these two?"
"Uh!"
"This is Jiraiya, Great Toad Sage."
Sage Fukasaku spoke helplessly.
"Oh, so it's little Jiraiya. And who's this? Hmm? He looks familiar."
Sage Fukasaku thought the Great Toad Sage was muddled from sleeping, so he said:
"This is Uchiha Hise, the young man who wants to learn Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode."
The Great Toad Sage waved a hand and said:
"I know. Child, you're not ready yet."
"Hm?"
Fei Shi wasn't the only one confused. Sage Fukasaku and Jiraiya were, too.
"They're coming without warning."
Fei Shi's pupils contracted.
"What did you see in your dream, elder?"
The Great Toad Sage let out a hearty laugh.
"Looks like you've figured it out. I saw the earth shattered into pieces, a black-haired young man with fury on his face, and a blond, blue-eyed young man weeping in grief. They stared at the gray-white corpses scattered across the land and vented their anger."
"I also saw a black-haired young man with short hair and only one arm, staring blankly at a tree as he raised the blade in his hand to his neck."
"When I looked up, I saw severed limbs everywhere, along with trees."
"Trees?"
Sage Fukasaku and Jiraiya were puzzled. What did severed limbs have to do with trees?
Only Fei Shi understood. White Zetsu! Those drained of their chakra by the God Tree after someone became the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi would turn into White Zetsu. And when White Zetsu died... they became trees.
So the trees were... the White Zetsu after their deaths.
"Did we lose?"
"No."
Hearing the Great Toad Sage's answer, Fei Shi smiled bitterly.
So they had won at a terrible cost.
Other than him, Naruto, and Sasuke, everyone else was probably... dead.
The trees on the shattered earth might well have been the old and new White Zetsu.
A large number of powerful members of the Otsutsuki Clan might descend and cast Infinite Tsukuyomi. Even those who weren't affected would die. The severed limbs...
"Great Toad Sage, do you know anything about that clan's strength and resources?"
"I don't know much. Other than that one, I know nothing about the others."
After a moment of silence, the Great Toad Sage told them to get ready to begin training in Sage Mode.
Fei Shi set aside his questions and emptied his mind. Led by Sage Fukasaku, he began his training.
"Great Toad Sage, what did you mean by all that? Was it a new prophecy?"
"Yes, it was a new prophecy. Have you found the Child of Prophecy from the previous one?"
Jiraiya looked at the Great Toad Sage in silence. He'd told him years ago that he had found the Child of Prophecy.
"Um, Great Toad Sage, I already told you I'd found him."
"Oh, that's right."
Gamarumaru nodded.
"Then what's the new prophecy, Great Toad Sage? Wasn't Naruto supposed to bring peace to the Ninja World?"
Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
He really didn't want to experience another war, even if he always ended up on the winning side.
"The previous prophecy has changed. The Child of Prophecy is key to fighting those People from Beyond the Heavens. As for why things turned out this way, I don't know."
Beyond the heavens? Outside the Ninja World? Was the situation really that serious?
Jiraiya swallowed.
The next day.
"Fei Shi, what are your plans? About that prophecy. I think you've already understood it completely."
Jiraiya asked Fei Shi, who was in front of him, drinking and lost in thought.
"Hic!"
Fei Shi hiccuped and replied:
"Keep the revolution moving forward as planned, but step up production. We also need to promote all kinds of new crops more aggressively, under the name of the merchant association."
"What about Naruto? What are you going to do with him?"
"Naruto's still young. Once he's a little older, I'll have him train in Sage Mode with Sasuke."
Jiraiya sounded a little displeased.
"And the prophecy? Don't think you can just brush me off."
Fei Shi might not tell anyone else, but he'd never planned to hide it from Jiraiya.
"It's the Otsutsuki Clan. The Sage of Six Paths' mother came from that clan. His mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, was the Progenitor of Chakra. The Kekkei Genkai known throughout the Ninja World today all came down from her. The Uchiha, Senju, Hyuga, and others."
Jiraiya set aside his shock and asked:
"Do we have a chance?"
"There's hope," Fei Shi replied unhurriedly. "In the prophecy, we win, but at a terrible cost. Everyone except me, Naruto, and Sasuke dies. I'll explain what the things in the prophecy mean another time."
"Now I have to give up my lazy ways. I can't keep slacking off. Naruto and Sasuke have great potential, and so do Hinata and Neji. You could say they're all direct descendants of the Otsutsuki."
"For now, let them endure some hardship. I'll find a way to help them grow. The war of the future won't be between hidden villages. It'll be a war between civilizations."
"For the sake of this world, these fledglings must learn to spread their wings and fly."
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